JP2002510853A - Primary battery with built-in controller (DC / DC converter) to extend battery run time - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY A battery having a built-in controller for extending battery run time is disclosed. The controller may, for example, convert the cell voltage to an output voltage higher than the cut-off voltage of the electronic device, or convert the cell voltage to an output voltage lower than the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell of the battery, or By protecting the electrochemical cell from current peaks, the run time of the battery can be extended. The controller may also include a ground bias circuit that provides a virtual ground so that the converter can operate at lower cell voltages. The battery may be a single cell battery, a universal single cell battery, a multi-cell battery, or a multi-cell hybrid battery.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to primary batteries, and more particularly to primary batteries having a built-in controller to extend battery run time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consumers use primary consumer batteries in portable electronic devices such as radios, compact disc players, cameras, mobile phones, electronic games, toys, wireless calling, computer equipment, and the like. . At the end of such battery run time, the battery is typically discarded. At this point, typically about 40% of the total storage capacity of a typical battery
Only 70% are used. After this portion of the initial stored energy has been used, the battery will generally not be able to supply enough voltage to drive the electronic device. Thus, consumers generally discard batteries even if they still contain about 30% to 60% of their storage capacity. Prolonging the run time of such batteries by providing a safer deeper discharge reduces waste by allowing electronic devices to use up to the full storage capacity of the battery before it is disposed of can do.

[0003] Consumers also constantly demand smaller, lighter portable electronic devices. One of the major obstacles in making such devices smaller and lighter is the size and weight of the batteries required to power the device. In fact, as electronic circuits become faster and more complex, they typically require more current than before, and thus the requirements for batteries are much greater. However, consumers do not embrace more powerful and smaller devices when batteries need to be replaced more frequently for increased functionality and speed. Therefore, to build faster and more complex electronic devices without shortening the battery run time, the electronic devices must use the batteries more efficiently, or the batteries themselves must use more of the stored energy. is there.

[0004] Some more expensive electronic devices include switching circuits (eg, DC) in the device that convert and / or stabilize the output voltage of one or more batteries.
/ DC converter). On these devices,
A plurality of single cell batteries are typically connected in series, and the converter converts the battery voltage to the voltage required by the load circuit. The converter typically steps down the battery output voltage during the initial portion of the battery discharge, where the battery supplies more voltage, and thus more power, than the load circuit requires, and / or
By gradually increasing the battery output voltage in the late part of the battery discharge when the battery is depleted because the output voltage is lower than required by the load circuit, the service run time of the battery can be extended.

[0005] However, having a converter in an electronic device has several disadvantages. First, converters are relatively expensive to place in electronic devices because every device manufacturer has a specific circuit design made in a relatively limited amount, and thus has a high individual cost. is there. Second, the battery supplier cannot control the type of converter used with a particular battery. Therefore,
Converters are not optimized for the specific electrochemical properties of each type of battery cell. Third, various types of battery cells, such as alkaline and lithium batteries, have different electrochemical properties and nominal voltages and therefore cannot be easily interchanged. Also, converters occupy valuable space in the electronic device and increase the weight of the electronic device. Also, some electronic devices use linear regulators instead of more efficient switching converters such as DC / DC converters. Also, electronic devices that include switching converters can generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can adversely affect adjacent circuits in the electronic device, such as radio frequency ("rf") transmitters. However, by placing the converter in the battery, the EMI source can be located at a distance from other EMI-sensitive electronics and / or the EMI source can be shielded by the battery's conductive enclosure. it can.

Another problem with current voltage converters is that such converters typically require a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series to generate sufficient voltage to drive the converter. It is. In this case, the converter can step down the voltage to the level required by the electronic device. Thus, due to the input voltage requirements of the converter, the electronic device must include multiple electrochemical cells, even if it only needs to use a single cell. For this reason, space and weight are wasted, and further miniaturization of the electronic device is prevented.

Therefore, prior to disposal of primary consumer batteries, there is a need to use more of the storage capacity of such batteries, reduce the space and weight used by the batteries, and further miniaturize portable electronic devices. There is.

Further, by designing a more general circuit, a DC / DC for an electronic device is designed.
There is a need to reduce the cost of DC converters.

[0009] There is also a need to design converters that can take advantage of certain electrochemical properties of certain types of electrochemical cells.

There is also a need to develop interchangeable batteries having electrochemical cells with different nominal voltages or internal impedances without changing the cell chemistry of the electrochemical cells.

Further, there is a need to develop a hybrid battery that allows various types of electrochemical cells to be packaged in the same battery.

[0012] There is also a need to protect circuits affected by electronic or electrical devices from EMI interference caused by switching converters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a primary battery that extends run time by using more of the stored energy. The battery has a built-in controller that includes a DC / DC converter that can operate at voltages below the voltage threshold of typical electronic devices. This controller regulates the cell voltage more efficiently and allows for a safe deep discharge of the battery so that more of the battery's stored energy can be used. The controller is preferably an alkaline cell, zinc carbon cell, N
Operates with specific types of electrochemical cells, such as iCd cells, lithium cells, silver oxide cells, hybrid cells, or on a mixed mode silicon chip that is custom designed to work with specific electronic devices. Is established.

The controller preferably has (1) a DC / DC converter on and off, and (2) an input voltage lower than a cut-off voltage of the electronic device for which the battery is intended to supply power. (3) Monitor and control the power supply to the load to optimally extend the run time of the battery by maintaining a minimum output voltage and (3) reducing the battery output impedance.

In a preferred embodiment, the controller is mounted inside a single cell primary battery (eg, in a container) such as a standard AAA battery, a standard AAA battery, a standard C battery, a standard D battery, or a controller such as a standard 9V battery. Attached inside each cell of a multi-cell primary battery. This offers several different advantages. First, battery designers can take advantage of the specific electrochemical properties of each type of electrochemical cell. Second, by changing or stabilizing the output voltage and / or output impedance to meet the requirements of electronic devices designed to operate on standard electrochemical cells, various types of electrochemical cells can be used. Can be used interchangeably. For example, battery designers can reduce the nominal cell voltage stepwise from about 2.8V to about 4.0V to about 1.5V without reducing the lithium cell chemical energy storage to reduce the standard 1 voltage. Super-efficient lithium batteries can be designed including lithium electrochemical cells, such as lithium MnO2 cells, that meet the packaging and electrical requirements of 0.5V AA batteries. Designers can take advantage of the higher cell voltage of lithium cells to save battery service runs.
The time can be greatly extended. Third, by placing the converter circuit in a single cell battery or a multi-cell battery, electronic devices can be designed without internal regulators and converters. This helps to reduce the size of the electronics and create cheaper, smaller and lighter portable electronic devices. The conductive container, including the electrochemical cell, also forms a shielding layer around the controller circuit, and creates electromagnetic interference ("EMI") caused by the controller's DC / DC converter.
) To protect nearby electronic circuits such as radio frequency ("rf") transmitters and radio frequency receivers. Also, by providing a controller in each electrochemical cell, a much safer and more effective control is provided for every electrochemical cell than is currently available. The controller monitors the condition within each electrochemical cell and ensures that each electrochemical cell is completely depleted before the electronic device shuts down.

The controller also allows the battery of the present invention to be used in a wide range of devices. The batteries of the present invention are known whether used with electrical or electronic devices having a cut-off voltage as listed above or with electrical devices having no cut-off voltage, such as flashlights. Gives advantages over batteries.

By selling a large number of batteries, controller chips can be made much more economical because they can be made much cheaper than designing individual regulators or converters for each type of electronic device. Can also be manufactured.

One preferred embodiment of a DC / DC converter is a nearly inductorless, high frequency, high efficiency, low input voltage, medium power converter that uses a pulse width phase shift modulation control scheme.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

While the conclusions of this specification are set forth in the claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded as the invention, the invention will be studied in conjunction with the appended drawings. Will be better understood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to primary single cell batteries and primary multi-cell batteries. In this specification,
The term "primary" is used and is discarded after the available storage capacity has been exhausted (ie, not recharged or otherwise reused) Refers to a battery or an electrochemical cell. The term "consumer" as used herein refers to batteries used in electronic or electrical devices purchased or used by consumers. The term "single cell" refers to a battery having a single electrochemical cell individually packaged, such as a standard AA battery, a standard AAA battery, a standard C battery, a standard D battery, or a multi-cell battery ( (For example, a standard 9V battery or a battery for a mobile phone or laptop computer). "battery"
Refers to a container having a terminal and a single electrochemical cell, or at least substantially two or more electrochemical cells (eg, a standard 9V
Batteries or batteries for mobile phones or laptop computers). The electrochemical cells need not be completely sealed by the housing if each cell has its own individual container. For example, the cell phone battery is 2
One or more electrochemical cells can be included, each cell having its own individual container, a shrink wrap that holds the individual containers but does not completely seal the individual containers of the cell. Packaged in plastic material. In this application,
The term "hybrid battery" includes multi-cell batteries in which at least two cells include two or more electrochemical cells having different electrodes, different pairs of electrodes, and different electrochemical components such as different electrolytes.

The term “controller” in this application refers to a circuit that accepts at least one input signal and provides at least one output signal, ie, a function of the input signal.
The terms “DC / DC converter” and “converter” are used interchangeably in this application and are switching types that convert an input DC voltage to a required DC output voltage;
That is, it refers to a chopper-controlled DC / DC converter. DC / DC converters are power electronics that often produce a regulated output. The converter can provide a regulated voltage with a step-up voltage level, a step-down voltage level, or almost the same level. Many different types of DC / DC converters are well known in the art. The present invention relates to a known converter as a less advantageous but possible alternative to the preferred converter described in this application, which can operate at a voltage level lower than the voltage level at which a typical electronic device cannot operate. Or the use of a linear regulator.

“Cutoff voltage” is a voltage at which an electric or electronic device connected to a battery cannot operate. Thus, the "cut-off voltage" is device dependent, i.e., the level depends on the device's minimum operating voltage (function endpoint) or operating frequency (e.g., the capacitor must be charged within a given time period). Electronic devices generally have a cutoff voltage in the range of about 1V to about 1.2V, and some electronic devices have a cutoff voltage on the order of about 0.9V. Electrical devices with mechanical moving parts, such as electric watches, motors, electrochemical relays, etc., have a cut-off voltage required to supply enough current to generate an electromagnetic field strong enough to move the mechanical parts Also have. Other electrical devices, such as flashlights, generally do not have a device cutoff voltage, but as the voltage of the battery that powers the device decreases, the output power (eg, bulb intensity) also decreases.

One aspect of the present invention is to extend the “service run time” of a battery.
"Battery service run time" and "battery run time" are interchangeable, and the output voltage of the battery is the minimum operating voltage of the device that the battery is supplying, that is, the cut-off voltage of that device. It is defined as the time of the discharge cycle before dropping to a lower voltage. "Cell run time" refers to the electrochemical cell itself,
That is, depending on the depletion of all electrochemical energy in the cell,
"Battery run time" depends on the device in which the battery is used. An electronic device with a cutoff voltage of about 1V will shut down when the battery output voltage drops below 1V, even if at least 50% of the energy storage capacity of the electrochemical cell remains. In this example, the "battery run time" because the battery can no longer produce enough energy to drive the electronic device and is generally discarded
Has passed. However, the "cell run time" has not elapsed since the electrochemical energy of the cell remains.

In this application, the term “service life of an electrochemical cell” or “cell useful life”
Used whether the electrochemical cell is a disposable cell or a rechargeable cell, the electrochemical cell generates a voltage sufficient to drive the device that is supplying power. Battery run, in that the time it takes for a cell to no longer be useful in a particular discharge cycle is the "cell useful life."
Respond to time. If the "cell run time" of a single cell battery is extended or shortened, the "cell useful life" and "battery run time" necessarily increase or decrease, respectively. In addition, the “battery run time” of single cell batteries
And the term "cell useful life" refer to the "battery run time" or "
It is interchangeable in that extending or shortening the "cell useful life" also increases or decreases the "cell useful life" or "battery run time," respectively. However, in contrast, the useful life of a particular electrochemical cell remains even after the battery run time of the multi-cell battery has passed, so the "cell" of the particular electrochemical cell within the multi-cell battery The term "service life" is not necessarily interchangeable with the term "battery run time" for multi-cell batteries. Similarly, if the "cell run time" of a particular electrochemical cell in a multi-cell battery is extended or shortened, the "battery run time" is determined by one or more other cells in the battery. Therefore, it does not always increase or does not shorten because it depends on the cell voltage.

The terms “electrically connected” and “electrical connection” refer to a connection that allows for continuous current flow. The terms "electronically connected" and "electronic connection" refer to connections in which electronic devices, such as transistors and diodes, are included in a current path. "Electrical connection" is defined as "electrical connection" such that in this application every "electronic connection" is considered an "electrical connection" but not every "electrical connection" is considered an "electronic connection". Is considered to be a subset of.

FIGS. 1-3 show a typical tubular battery 10 structure simplified for discussion. Each tubular battery 10 structure has the same basic structural elements in various configurations. In each case, the structure includes a container having a jacket or sidewall 14, a top cap 16 including a positive terminal 20, and a bottom cap 18 including a negative terminal 22. Container 12
Seals a single electrochemical cell 30. FIG. 1 shows a configuration that can be used for a single cylindrical zinc-carbon electrochemical cell 30 battery 10. In this configuration, the entire top cap 16 is conductive and forms the positive terminal 20 of the battery 10. An insulating washer or seal 24 secures the conductive top cap 16 to the electrochemical cell 3.
Insulate from zero. The electrode or current collector 26 electrically connects the external positive terminal 20 of the battery 10 and the cathode (positive electrode) 32 of the electrochemical cell 30. Bottom cap 1
8 is also entirely conductive and forms the external negative terminal 22 of the battery 10. The bottom cap is electrically connected to the anode (negative electrode) 34 of the electrochemical cell 30. The separator 28 is disposed between the anode and the cathode, and forms a means for conducting ions through the electrolyte. For example, zinc carbon batteries are typically packaged in this type of configuration.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative battery design in which an insulating washer or seal 24 is shown to insulate the bottom cap 18 from the electrochemical cell 30. In this case, the entire top cap 16 is conductive and forms the positive terminal 20 of the battery. Top cap 16 is electrically connected to cathode 32 of electrochemical cell 30. The bottom cap 18 is also conductive and forms the negative terminal 22 of the battery. Bottom cap 18
Is electrically connected to the anode 34 of the battery cell 30 via the current collector 26.
The separator 28 is disposed between the anode and the cathode, and forms a means for conducting ions through the electrolyte. For example, alkaline (zinc / manganese dioxide) batteries are typically packaged in this type of configuration.

FIG. 3 shows another alternative battery design in which the electrochemical cell 30 is formed in a “spiral-wound jelly-roll” configuration. In this design, four layers are disposed adjacent to each other in a "stacked" configuration. This “laminated” structure is, for example, the cathode layer 32, the first
, The anode layer 34, and the second separator layer 28 in this order. Alternatively, the second separator layer 28, which is not disposed between the cathode 32 and anode 34 layers, can be replaced by an insulating layer. This “stacked” structure is then wound into a tubular spiral wound jelly roll configuration and placed in the container 12 of the battery 10. Insulating washer or seal 2
4 is shown to insulate the top cap 16 from the electrochemical cell 30. In this case, the entire top cap 16 is conductive and forms the positive terminal 20 of the battery 10. Top cap 16 is electrically connected to cathode layer 32 of electrochemical cell 30 via current collector 26. The bottom cap 18 is also conductive and forms the negative terminal 22 of the battery. The bottom cap 18 is electrically connected to the anode 34 of the battery cell 30 via the conductive bottom plate 19. The separator layer 28
It is disposed between the cathode layer 32 and the anode layer 34 and forms a means for conducting ions through the electrolyte. The side wall 14 is provided with a top cap 16 and a bottom cap 18.
Shown connected. In this case, the side wall 14 is preferably formed from a non-conductive material such as a polymer. However, the side wall 14 has at least one positive terminal 20
If it is insulated from the negative terminal 22 and thus does not form a short circuit between the two terminals, it can also be made of a conductive material such as a metal. For example,
Lithium batteries, such as lithium manganese dioxide (MnO2) batteries, are typically packaged in this type of configuration.

Each of these cells may include a variety of safety vents well known in the art, operating vents for electrochemical cells that require an exchange of air for operation, volume indicators, labels, etc. Forms can also be included. Also, the cells can be configured in other structures known in the art, such as button cells, coin cells, prism cells, flat plate cells, bipolar plate cells, and the like.

In the present invention, the battery “container” 12 contains a single electrochemical cell 30. The container 12 insulates and protects the two electrodes 32 and 34 of the electrochemical cell 30, the separator, and the electrolyte from the environment and other electrochemical cells in the multi-cell battery, as well as the electrochemical outside of the container. Includes all elements necessary to supply electrical energy from cell 30. Thus, the container 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes the side wall 14, the top cap 16 and the bottom cap 18, and the positive terminal 20 and the negative terminal 22 that enable the electrical connection of the cell 30. In a multi-cell battery, the container may be an individual structure containing a single electrochemical cell 30, and the container 12 may be one of a plurality of individual containers in a multi-cell battery. Alternatively, if the housing completely insulates the electrodes and one of the electrochemical cells from the environment and from each other cell in the battery, the container 12 may be part of the housing of the multi-cell battery. Can be formed. The container 12 can be made of a combination of a conductive material such as a metal and an insulating material such as a plastic or a polymer.

However, the container 12 needs to be distinguished from a multi-cell battery housing, where each cell includes a separate, individually insulated cell containing its own electrode and electrolyte. For example, a standard alkaline 9V battery housing seals six individual alkaline cells, each cell having its own container 612, as shown in FIG. However, in some lithium 9V batteries, the battery housing is formed to have individual chambers that insulate the electrodes of the electrochemical cells and the electrolyte, so that the housing has a separate container 12 for each cell. And the housing for the entire battery.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5 C show three embodiments of the present invention relating to a single cell cylindrical primary battery.
2 shows a partially exploded view of one embodiment. In FIG. 5A, the top cap 21 of the battery 210 is shown.
6 and an insulating washer 224 are provided with a controller 240. The positive output 242 of the controller 240 is the battery 2 located immediately next to the controller 240.
The negative output 244 of the controller 240 is electrically connected to the negative terminal 222 of the battery 210. In this example, controller 2
The negative output 244 of 40 is connected to the negative terminal 222 of the conductive bottom cap 218 of the battery 210.
Is connected to the negative terminal 222 of the battery 210 via a conductive side wall 214 that makes electrical contact with the battery. In this case, the conductive sidewall must be electrically insulated from the top cap 216. Positive input 246 of controller 240 is electrically connected to cathode 232 of electrochemical cell 230 via current collector 226. Controller 240
The negative input 248 is electrically connected to the anode 234 of the electrochemical cell 230 via a conductive strip 237. Alternatively, the controller 240 can be located between the bottom cap 218 and the insulator 225, or can be attached or joined to the outside of the battery container or label.

In FIG. 5B, a controller 340 is located between the bottom cap 318 of the battery 310 and the insulator 325. Negative output 344 of controller 340 is electrically connected to negative terminal 322 of battery 310 located immediately adjacent to controller 340, and positive output 342 of controller 340 is electrically connected to positive terminal 320 of battery 310. In this example, the positive output 342 of the controller 340 is connected to the positive terminal 320 of the battery 310 via a conductive sidewall 314 that electrically contacts the positive terminal 320 of the conductive top cap 316 of the battery 310. Positive input 346 of controller 340
Is electrically connected to the cathode 332 of the electrochemical cell 330 via a conductive strip 336. Negative input 348 of controller 340 is connected to electrochemical cell 33.
It is electrically connected to the anode 334 of the electrochemical cell 330 via a current collector 326 extending from the bottom plate 319 into the anode 334. In such a case, if controller 340 uses a virtual ground, current collector 326 and negative input 348 of controller 340 must be isolated from negative terminal 322 of container 312 and negative output 344 of controller 340. Alternatively, controller 340 may be located between top cap 316 and insulator 324, or may be attached or joined to the outside of battery container 312 or label.

In FIG. 5C, controller 440 is formed on wrapper 441 using thick film printing techniques or on a flexible printed circuit board (“PCB”),
It is arranged inside the container of the battery 410 between the side wall 414 and the cathode 432. The positive output 442 of the controller 440 is electrically connected to the positive terminal 420 of the battery 410 via the top cap 416 of the battery 410, and the negative output 4
44 is electrically connected to the negative terminal 422 of the battery 410 via the bottom plate 419 and the bottom cap 418. Positive input 446 of controller 440 is electrically connected to cathode 432 of electrochemical cell 430, which in this example is located immediately adjacent to wrapper 441 containing controller 440. Negative input 448 of controller 440 is electrically connected to anode 434 of electrochemical cell 430 via contact plate 431 and current collector 426 extending from contact plate 431 into anode 434 of electrochemical cell 430. Is done. Insulating washer 427 insulates contact plate 431 from cathode 432. As shown in FIG. 5C, the current collector 4
The insulating washer may also extend between the anode 434 and the contact plate 431, as 26 forms a connection from the anode 434 to the contact plate 431.
If the controller 440 uses a virtual ground, the contact plate 431 must also be insulated from the bottom plate 419 and the negative terminal 422, such as by an insulating washer 425. Alternatively, a wrapper 441 wound around the outside of the side wall 414 can be disposed outside the container 412. In such embodiments, the wrapper can be covered with a label, or the label can be printed on the same wrapper as the controller itself.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a multi-cell 9V battery 610 of the present invention in which each electrochemical cell 630 has a controller 640 inside the individual container 612 of the cell.
In this embodiment, battery 610 includes six individual electrochemical cells 630 with a nominal voltage of about 1.5V in each cell. For example, battery 610 may include three lithium cells, with each cell having a nominal voltage of about 3V.

FIGS. 4, 4A, and 4B show block diagrams of various embodiments of the battery 110 of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the battery of the present invention using an embedded integrated controller circuit 140. This embodiment preferably uses a mixed mode integrated circuit having both digital and analog components. Alternatively, application specific integrated circuits ("ASICs"), hybrid chip designs, PCs
Using a board, or other form of circuit manufacturing technique known in the art,
A controller circuit can be manufactured. The controller circuit 140 can be located inside the battery container 112 between the positive and negative electrodes 132 and 134 of the electrochemical cell 130 and the positive and negative terminals 120 and 122 of the battery. Accordingly, the controller 140 may connect the electrochemical cell 130 to or disconnect from the terminals 120 and 122 of the container 112, or output the voltage or output of the cell 130 applied to the battery terminals 120 and 122. The impedance can be changed or stabilized. FIG. 4A shows one preferred embodiment of the battery 110 of the present invention shown in FIG. In FIG. 4A, the controller 140
Is connected between the positive electrode (cathode) 132 of the electrochemical cell 130 and the positive terminal 120 of the battery container 112. Negative electrode (anode) 134 of electrochemical cell 130
And the negative terminal 122 of the battery case 112 shares a common ground with the controller 140. However, FIG. 4B illustrates that the controller 140 uses a virtual ground to insulate the negative electrode 134 of the electrochemical cell 130 from the negative terminal 122 of the container 112 and to connect the positive electrode 132 of the electrochemical cell 130 to the positive terminal of the container 112. 2 shows a preferred alternative embodiment of the battery 110 of the present invention, insulated from 120.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B have their own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, the configuration of FIG. 4A allows for a simpler circuit design having a common ground for the electrochemical cell 130, the controller 140, and the negative terminal 122 of the battery container 112. However, the configuration of FIG. 4A has the disadvantage that the converter needs to work below the true electrochemical cell voltage level, and may require the use of discrete inductor elements. 4B, the negative terminal 122 of the battery container 112
, The negative electrode 134 of the electrochemical cell 130 is isolated from the load and a nearly inductorless DC / DC converter can be used. However, this configuration requires increased circuit complexity of the virtual ground to allow the controller 140 voltage to continue to operate more efficiently when the cell voltage is below the nominal voltage level of the electrochemical cell. There is a disadvantage that there is.

The primary battery of the present invention includes a controller that extends the service run time of the battery. Electrochemical cells can be packaged in single cell batteries or multi-cell batteries. Multi-cell batteries can include two or more of the same type of electrochemical cells, or can include two or more different types of electrochemical cells in a hybrid battery. The multi-cell battery of the present invention can include electrochemical cells that are electrically configured in series and / or in parallel. The controller of the single cell battery is electrically connected in series and / or parallel to the electrochemical cell inside the cell container and is packaged at least partially inside a housing containing the cell container, or , The housing, or a label or other structure attached to the container or housing. The controller of the multi-cell battery may be packaged with one or more individual cells as described for the single-cell battery and / or such that the controller is connected in series or parallel to a combination of electrochemical cells. It can be packaged with a combination of multiple cells.

The controller can extend the service run time of the disposable battery of the present invention in one of several ways. First, the controller allows one or more electrochemical cells of the battery to be discharged by the electronic device deeper than would otherwise be possible. In the present application, the term "deep discharge" refers to discharging an electrochemical cell to at least 80% of its rated capacity. Also, the term "substantial discharge" in this application refers to discharging an electrochemical cell to at least 70% of its rated capacity. "Overdischarge" is defined as
It refers to discharging the electrochemical cell to more than 100% and inverting the voltage. For example, the typical alkaline batteries currently on the market generally have about 40% of the stored energy capacity before the voltage level of the electrochemical cell drops to a voltage level insufficient to drive a typical electronic device. % To 70%. Thus, the controller of the present invention preferably forms an alkaline cell that can discharge more than about 70% before the battery shuts down.
More preferably, the controller provides a discharge level of greater than about 80%. Even more preferably, the controller provides a discharge level greater than about 90%, and
Most preferably, it exceeds.

The controller can include a converter that converts the cell voltage to the desired output voltage of the battery, allowing for a deeper discharge of the electrochemical cell, thereby extending the service run time of the battery. In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller can continuously convert the cell voltage to the desired output voltage over the service run time of the battery. When the cell voltage drops to the level of the device cut-off voltage, which normally stops the battery from discharging, the controller causes the voltage level to drop below the minimum voltage required to drive the controller. The cell voltage is increased, or stepwise, at the output of the battery to a level sufficient to continue driving the electronic device. Thus, batteries having a controller design that can operate at lower voltage levels than other battery controllers form batteries that can be discharged deeper.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the converter operates only when the cell voltage drops below a predetermined voltage level. In such an embodiment, the converter operates only when needed, thus minimizing internal losses in the converter. The predetermined voltage level preferably ranges from the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell to the highest cutoff voltage of the class of device for which the battery is to operate. More preferably, the predetermined voltage level is slightly higher than the highest cutoff voltage of the class of device for which the battery is to operate. For example, the predetermined voltage level ranges from approximately the highest cut-off voltage of the class of device for which the battery is to operate, to this cut-off voltage plus about 0.2 V, preferably Ranging from approximately the highest cut-off voltage of the class of device in which the battery is to operate to this cut-off voltage plus approximately 0.15V;
More preferably, it ranges from about the highest cut-off voltage of the class of device in which the battery is to operate to about 0.1 V to this cut-off voltage, and even more preferably the battery operates. From about the highest cut-off voltage of the class of device to be implemented to this cut-off voltage plus about 0.05V. For example, a predetermined voltage for an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 1.5V generally ranges from about 0.8V to about 1.8V. Preferably, the predetermined voltage is in a range from about 0.9V to about 1.6V. More preferably, the predetermined voltage ranges from about 0.9V to about 1.5V. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage ranges from about 0.9V to about 1.2V, and from about 1.0V to about 1.2V.
Is more preferably within the range. A voltage level slightly higher than or equal to the highest cutoff voltage of the class of device for which the battery is to operate is most preferred. However, the predetermined voltage level of a controller designed to operate with an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 3.0V may generally range from about 2.0V to about 3.4V. Preferably, the predetermined voltage is in a range from about 2.2V to about 3.2V. More preferably, the predetermined voltage ranges from about 2.4V to about 3.2V. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage is in the range of about 2.6V to about 3.2V, and even more preferably in the range of about 2.8V to about 3.0V. A voltage level slightly higher than or equal to the highest cutoff voltage of the class of device for which the battery is to operate is most preferred.

When the cell voltage drops below a predetermined voltage level, the controller turns on the converter and raises the cell voltage to a desired output voltage sufficient to drive a load. This eliminates converter internal losses that are not needed when the cell voltage is high enough to drive the load, but after the electrochemical cell has dropped to a level lower than the level needed to drive the load. However, discharge can be continued. The controller consists of several control mechanisms, from simple combinations of voltage comparators and electronic switches to more complex control schemes such as those described below, that turn on the converter when the cell voltage drops to a predetermined voltage level. One or more of the following may be used.

The universal battery of the present invention designed for a given output voltage preferably can extend the service run time of the battery when used to power a device. In this application, a "universal" battery is a battery that can provide a uniform output voltage independent of the electrochemical properties of the cell. Thus, the battery of the present invention raises the output voltage of the battery from the highest cut-off voltage of this class of electronic devices until the voltage of the electrochemical cell drops to a level at which the integrated controller can no longer operate and the controller shuts down. Preferably, it is designed to extend the service run time by maintaining a high or equal level to this cutoff voltage. A battery of the present invention designed to power a particular electronic device, or a narrower class of electronic devices having a similar cut-off voltage, will bring a given voltage level closer to the cut-off voltage of such a device. Can be specifically designed to operate more efficiently.

Second, the controller steps down the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage higher than the desired output voltage and / or changes the output impedance of the electrochemical cell of the battery. You can also. As a result, battery service
Not only is the run time extended, but also greater interoperability is possible between electrochemical cells with different nominal voltages than would otherwise be possible, allowing designers to use electrical cells with higher nominal voltages. The higher storage potential of the chemical cell can be utilized, and the output impedance of one electrochemical cell can be changed to match the desired level,
Enhance the interchangeability of this electrochemical cell with other types of electrochemical cells, and / or
Or the efficiency of the electrochemical cell for a particular type of load can be increased. Also, electrochemical cells that are inefficient, environmentally hazardous, expensive, such as mercury cadmium cells, and are generally used only because a specific nominal voltage is required, The nominal voltage is stepped up or down to meet the required nominal voltage or output impedance required in the application, or the output impedance is changed so that it is safer or more efficient Or a less expensive electrochemical cell.

For example, an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 1.8 V or higher is packaged with a controller that steps down this higher nominal voltage to a standard nominal level of about 1.5 V, and the battery is It can be used interchangeably with batteries having a nominal voltage of about 1.5V. In one particular example, a standard lithium cell, such as lithium MnO2, having a nominal voltage of about 3.0V, is packaged with a step-down controller, and the battery having the cell and controller has a nominal voltage of about 1.5V. Can be This results in a nominal voltage of about 1.5
A battery is formed having a capacity at least twice as large as a battery having electrochemical cells of V and the same volume. Also, lithium batteries that are truly interchangeable with standard alkaline single cell batteries or zinc carbon single cell batteries without the need to chemically alter the lithium cell chemistry to reduce the cell's chemical energy storage. Cells are also formed. Batteries having electrochemical cells such as magnesium, magnesium air, and aluminum air have a nominal voltage of about 1.8 V and can be used interchangeably with standard batteries having a nominal voltage of about 1.5 V. it can. Not only can various types of electrochemical cells be used interchangeably, but various types of electrochemical cells can be packaged together as a hybrid battery. Therefore, different types of electrochemical cells having different electrochemical cells with different nominal voltages or internal impedances may be used interchangeably, or hybrid batteries having different types of electrochemical cells. Can also be manufactured.

Alternatively, an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage that renders a given electronic device inoperable can be used with a controller having a built-in step-up converter to increase the nominal voltage. This allows batteries with such electrochemical cells to be used with devices that require higher voltage levels than the cells would otherwise supply. A battery having such an electrochemical cell can also be used interchangeably with a standard alkaline electrochemical cell or a zinc carbon electrochemical cell. This forms a commercially viable and usable battery having electrochemical cells that would otherwise not be considered consumer disposable electrochemical cells because the nominal voltage is too low to be practical. Can be.

As examples of battery types that can be used in the present invention, a zinc carbon battery, an alkaline battery, and a lithium battery will be discussed. Other types of batteries, such as, but not limited to, the primary batteries shown in Table 1, can also be used in the primary battery of the present invention. Secondary electrochemical cells can also be used in hybrid batteries in combination with primary electrochemical cells. Indeed, the present invention allows for greater interoperability between various types of electrochemical cells and higher interoperability between the electrochemical cells and alternative power sources such as fuel cells. Exchangeability becomes possible. By placing a controller in each electrochemical cell, the nominal voltage and output impedance of various types of electrochemical cells can be used so that more types of cells can be used in producing interchangeable standard size batteries. And other electrical characteristics can be adjusted. In particular, batteries can be designed to take advantage of the particular advantages of electrochemical cells, while still allowing interchange with batteries using other types of cells. In addition, the present invention can be used to create new standard voltage levels by converting the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell to each standard voltage level.

[0049]

[Table 1]

It is also possible to use electrochemical cells that are otherwise incompatible with each other, especially in hybrid batteries designed for certain types of applications. For example, a zinc air electrochemical cell can be used in a hybrid battery in parallel or in series with a lithium cell. Zinc air cells have a nominal voltage of about 1.5 V and have a very high energy density, but can only supply low steady state current levels. But,
Lithium cells have a nominal voltage level of about 3.0 V and can supply short bursts of high current levels. The controller of each electrochemical cell supplies the same nominal output voltage, allowing for placement in a parallel or series electrical configuration. When the cells are in a parallel configuration, the controller also prevents the cells from charging each other. A controller for each cell can be used to connect or disconnect either cell or both cells as required by the load. Thus, when the load is in the low power mode, the zinc air cell can be connected to supply a steady low current, and when the load is in the high power mode, by or with the lithium cell. The combination of zinc air cells can provide the current needed to power the load.

Hybrid batteries can also include many different types of electrochemical cells such as alkaline and metal-air cells, metal-air and secondary cells, metal-air cells and supercapacitors. Further, the hybrid battery may include a combination of primary and secondary cells, a combination of primary and spare cells, a combination of secondary and spare cells, or a combination of primary, secondary and spare cells. A hybrid battery can also include a combination of one or more electrochemical cells and one or more alternative power sources, such as fuel cells, conventional capacitors, and in some cases, supercapacitors. Further, a hybrid battery can include any combination of two or more of the foregoing cells or power sources.

In addition, the controller can extend battery run time by protecting the electrochemical cell from current peaks that can adversely affect the operation of the electrochemical cell components and reduce cell voltage. . For example, the controller
It is possible to prevent the memory effect from occurring in the cell due to the high current demand and shortening the run time of the battery. The current peaks are in alkaline cells, lithium cells,
It also adversely affects electrochemical cells such as zinc air cells.

A controller that protects the electrochemical cell from current peaks can temporarily store charge at its output, and can therefore use this temporary storage on demand. Thus, the peak current demand can be completely eliminated or significantly reduced before reaching the electrochemical cell. by this,
Batteries can produce higher current peaks than an electrochemical cell can supply directly, and the electrochemical cell is protected from current peaks that can adversely affect cell components. The temporary storage element is preferably a capacitor. This capacitor may be any type of capacitor known in the art, such as a conventional capacitor, a thick film printed capacitor, and in some cases a "super capacitor". For example, FIG. 13 shows the output terminal 1320 and the output terminal 132 of the container 1312.
2 shows a capacitor Cf connected between the first and second capacitors.

A single controller preferably extends the service run time of the battery by protecting the cell from current peaks and converting the cell voltage to the desired output voltage. For example, a preferred embodiment of the controller can turn on the converter when the cell voltage drops to a predetermined voltage and minimize losses associated with the converter. The controller monitors both the cell voltage and the output load current and can turn on the converter when the cell voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level or when the load current reaches a predetermined current level. Alternatively,
The controller can monitor both the cell voltage and the output load current and determine if supplying the required load current will cause the cell voltage to drop below the cutoff voltage level. In the latter example, the controller operates on the two input signals combined in the algorithm to determine whether the converter should be turned on. However, in the former example, the controller turns on the converter when the cell voltage drops to a predetermined voltage level or when the output load current rises to a predetermined current level. These are discussed in detail below, along with other possible control schemes.

The present invention relates to special primary batteries and standard consumer primary batteries such as AAA single cell batteries, AA single cell batteries, C single cell batteries, or D single cell batteries, and 9V multi-cell batteries. It is an invention. The present invention contemplates the use of special primary and hybrid batteries that can be used in various applications. Rechargeable batteries used in cell phones, laptop computers, etc., which are currently limited by the ability of the primary battery to supply the required current rating over a sufficient period of time, these special primary and hybrid batteries It is expected that can be replaced using In addition, the ability to individually control the output voltage and output impedance of the cells allows battery designers to combine various types of cells, or fuel cells, conventional capacitors, and sometimes "supercapacitors". A completely new type of hybrid battery can be designed that uses an alternative power supply in the same hybrid battery. As the number of interchangeable types of electrochemical cells increases, battery designers supply standard batteries, cell phones,
It can reduce reliance on custom designed batteries for specific devices such as laptop computers, camcorders and cameras. Consumers can buy batteries specifically manufactured for a particular type, brand, and / or model of electronic device, just as they currently purchase batteries for flashlights or tape recorders. In addition, a standard battery for supplying power to a mobile phone can be easily purchased. Also, as the number of standard batteries manufactured increases, the cost per unit drops rapidly, resulting in much more affordable batteries that can eventually be replaced by specially designed rechargeable batteries.

Using electronic labeling techniques, such as those used in photographic film, etc., the type of cell in the battery, the rating and / or remaining capacity of the cell, the peak and optimal current supply capabilities, the charge level , Internal impedance, etc., so that "smart" devices can read electronic labeling to optimize battery consumption, e.g., enhance device performance, battery service run time Can be extended. Cameras have already used electronic labeling to determine film speed and so on.For example, batteries can also use electronic labeling techniques to increase flash charging time or stop using flash, The service run time of a particular battery can be optimized. Laptops also use electronic labeling techniques, for example, changing the operating speed to optimally use the remaining charge in the battery for the duration required by the user, or powering on / off By using techniques to conserve battery energy, the most efficient operating parameters of a particular battery can also be determined. Also, camcorders, mobile phones, and the like can use electronic labeling to optimize battery usage.

Furthermore, depending on the needs of the consumer, the primary batteries can be used interchangeably with various types of primary batteries or possibly rechargeable batteries. For example, if the laptop computer's rechargeable battery is depleted, the user can purchase a primary battery that can be used for several hours before charging the rechargeable battery. A user may, for example, purchase a less expensive battery if one does not need certain high performance levels that can be provided by devices with more expensive batteries.

The present invention is also directed to standard consumer primary batteries such as AAA single cell batteries, AAA single cell batteries, C single cell batteries, D single cell batteries, and 9V multi-cell batteries. In a preferred embodiment, for example, on the order of about 0.1 V for a silicon carbide (“SiC”) embodiment, and about 0.1 V for a gallium arsenide (“GaAs”) embodiment.
The controller can be designed to operate with a battery having a nominal voltage of about 1.5V, such that it can operate at a voltage level of about 34V, and in the conventional silicon-based embodiment, about 0.54V. it can. Also, as print dimensions decrease, these minimum operating voltages also decrease. For example, in silicon, reducing the circuit print to 0.18 micron technology reduces the minimum operating voltage to about 0.54
V to about 0.4V. As mentioned above, the lower the minimum operating voltage of the controller, the lower the controller can adjust the cell voltage to discharge the electrochemical cell as deeply as possible. Thus, using a variety of conventional in-circuit manufacturing techniques, battery utilization can be reduced to about 10% of the stored charge of an electrochemical cell.
Increasing to 0% is within the scope of the present invention. However, the silicon-based embodiment of the present invention increases the utilization of the battery storage potential to 95%, which is much higher than the average utilization without a controller of 40% to 70%.

For example, in one preferred silicon-based embodiment, the controller has about 1
About V, more preferably about 0.85V, even more preferably about 0.8V, even more preferably about 0.75V, even more preferably about 0.7V, even more preferably about 0.65V, even more preferably Is designed to operate at a voltage of about 0.6V, most preferably about 0.54V. Controllers designed for electrochemical cells with a nominal voltage of about 1.5V are preferably at least about 1.6
It can operate with an input voltage of about V. More preferably, the controller is capable of operating with an input voltage of at least about 1.8V. Therefore, a preferred controller should be able to operate at voltages as low as about 0.8V to at least 1.6V. However, the controller can, and preferably does, operate outside this range.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the controller of the present invention designed for use with an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 3.0V, the controller comprises an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 1.5V. It must be able to operate at a voltage level higher than that required by the controller used with the target cell. For an electrochemical cell with a nominal voltage of about 3.0V, the controller is preferably at about 2.4V.
From about 3.2V to about 3.2V. The controller can more preferably operate in a range from about 0.8V to at least about 3.2V. More preferably, the controller can operate with an input voltage in the range from about 0.6V to at least about 3.4V. Even more preferably, the controller is about 0.54
Operating from an input voltage in the range of at least about 3.6 V to about 0.4 V;
Most preferred is a range from 5V to at least about 3.8V. However, the controller can, and preferably does, operate outside this range.

[0061] Alternative preferred embodiments can operate with electrochemical cells having a nominal voltage of about 1.5V or 3.0V. In this embodiment, the controller
A minimum input voltage of about 0.8V, preferably about 0.7V, more preferably about 0.6V, most preferably about 0.54V, and at least about 3.2V, preferably 3.4V
, More preferably at a maximum input voltage of 3.6V, most preferably about 3.8V. For example, the controller may operate from about 0.54V to about 3.4.
V, a range from about 0.54V to about 3.8V, about 0.7V to about 3.8V, and the like.

The batteries of the present invention also have distinct advantages over typical batteries when used with electrical devices such as flashlights that do not have a cut-off voltage. When a typical battery is used, the output voltage of the battery decreases as the battery discharges. Since the output power of the electric device is proportional to the voltage supplied from the battery, the output of the electric device decreases in proportion to the battery output voltage. For example, the intensity of a flash bulb decreases as the battery's output voltage decreases until the battery is completely discharged. However, the battery of the present invention has a controller that regulates the cell voltage to a controlled, relatively constant voltage level throughout the battery discharge cycle until the cell voltage drops to a level at which the controller cannot operate. At this point, the battery stops supplying power and the electrical device stops operating. However, during the discharge cycle, the electrical device will continue to provide a relatively steady output (eg, bulb intensity) until the battery loses power.

[0063] Preferred embodiments of the battery of the present invention also include a low residual charge capacity warning to the user. The controller, for example, when the electrochemical cell voltage reaches a predetermined value,
The electrochemical cell can be disconnected and reconnected from the battery output terminal intermittently for a short duration. This can provide a visual, audible, or device readable indication that the battery is about to stop powering.
The controller can also artificially recreate the condition of the accelerated battery discharge state by reducing the output voltage of the battery at the end of the battery run time.
For example, the controller can initiate a decrease in output voltage when the battery storage capacity reaches about 5% of the rated capacity. This can indicate to the user that the volume of the tape player or compact disc player is low, or can provide an indication to the device and the device can alert the user accordingly.

FIG. 7 shows the positive electrode 732 and the negative electrode 734 of the electrochemical cell 730 and the container 71.
2 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, wherein a DC / DC converter 750 is electrically or preferably electronically connected between two positive terminals 720 and a negative terminal 722. FIG. The DC / DC converter 750 is connected to the positive electrode 73 of the electrochemical cell 730.
2 is converted to an output voltage at positive terminal 720 and negative terminal 722 of container 712. The DC / DC converter 750 has an output terminal 720.
Steps 722 and 722 perform step-up conversion, step-down conversion, both step-up conversion and step-down conversion, or voltage stabilization. In this embodiment, D
C / DC converter 750 operates in a continuous mode in which the output voltage of electrochemical cell 730 is converted to a stable output voltage at terminals 720 and 722 of the container over the service run time of the battery. This embodiment includes output terminals 720 and 72
In step 2, the output voltage of the container 712 is stabilized. Providing a stable output voltage allows electronic device designers to reduce the complexity of power management circuits in electronic devices,
The size, weight and cost of the device are correspondingly reduced.

The DC / DC converter 750 continues to operate until the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell 730 drops below the minimum forward bias voltage of the electronic component Vfb of the converter 750. The controller 740 is also stabilized at the terminals 720 and 722 of the container 712 to the extent that the minimum switching voltage Vfb of the DC / DC converter 750 is lower than the cutoff voltage of the electronic device to which the battery 710 is supplying power. As long as the output voltage exceeds the cut-off voltage of the electronic device, the service run time of the battery 710 that has exceeded the cut-off voltage of the electronic device is extended.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, a DC / D operating in continuous mode
C converter 750 may be a step-down converter that reduces the cell voltage of electrochemical cell 730 to the output voltage of container 712. In one embodiment of the controller 740 that includes a step-down converter, the converter can interchange a battery that includes a first type of electrochemical cell 730 with a battery that includes a second type of electrochemical cell. , The voltage of the first type of electrochemical cell 730 is approximately
The output voltage of the container 712 is equal to the nominal voltage level of the electrochemical cell of the type. For example, using an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage higher than a standard 1.5V cell in combination with a continuously operating step-down converter,
Cells that can be interchanged with standard cells can be formed without having to chemically modify the electrochemical cells. In this embodiment, higher interchangeability than would otherwise be possible with various types of electrical cells without chemically altering the structure of the electrochemical cell itself and reducing the chemical energy storage of the cell. It becomes possible between chemical cells.

For example, a lithium cell can be used in a standard AA battery package to form a capacity that is at least twice as large as an alkaline battery of the same volume. Lithium cells, such as lithium MnO2, have a nominal voltage of about 3.0V and typically have a voltage of 1.
It cannot be used interchangeably with AA alkaline batteries having a nominal voltage of 5V. However, battery designers have changed the chemistry of lithium electrochemical cells to form lithium batteries with a nominal voltage of about 1.5V, for example, standard AA
We are making lithium batteries that can be used interchangeably with alkaline batteries. This one
. While 5V lithium batteries still have the ability to provide high current levels to photographic flash load circuits, 1.5V lithium electrochemical cells greatly increase total chemical energy storage compared to the same volume of alkaline cells. It is not possible. However, the present invention provides the ability to convert this nominal voltage to about 1.5V using a standard lithium electrochemical cell and a controller with a nominal voltage of about 3V. Thus, the battery is a chemically modified 1.5 V lithium cell or 1.5 V
Nearly twice the amount of chemical energy stored in batteries containing alkaline cells
. It is realized by a battery that can be completely interchanged with a 5V battery. Also, the lithium batteries of the present invention provide the same high current levels as batteries containing chemically modified 1.5V lithium cells.

The controller 740 also optimizes the performance of electrical devices such as flashlights that use the battery 710. Electrical devices, unlike electronic devices, do not stop at the minimum operating voltage, but the performance of electrical devices, such as the strength of flashlight bulbs, decreases as the input voltage decreases. Thus, if the output voltage of the battery 710 is stable, the performance of the electrical device can be made constant over the service run time of the battery without lowering the performance of the device as the voltage of the electrochemical cell 730 decreases. I can put it.

The DC / DC converter 750 can use a number of known control schemes, such as pulse modulation, and uses a pulse width modulation (“PWM”) resonance converter, pulse amplitude modulation to control the operating parameters of the converter 750. (“PAM”) resonant converter, pulse frequency modulation (“PFM”) resonant converter, pulse phase shift modulation (“P
ΨM ”) may further include a resonance converter or the like. Converter 7 of the present invention
The 50 preferred embodiments use pulse width modulation. A more preferred embodiment uses a combination of pulse width modulation and pulse phase modulation, and this embodiment is described in detail below.

In a preferred embodiment of the DC / DC converter 750 used in the battery of the present invention, the converter is controlled by a pulse width modulator driving the DC / DC converter 750. The pulse width modulator generates a constant frequency control signal with a varying duty cycle. For example, the duty cycle may be zero when the DC / DC converter is off, 100% when the converter is operating at full capacity, and load demand and / or the remainder of the electrochemical cell 730. It can vary between zero and 100% depending on capacity. This pulse width modulation scheme uses at least one pulse width modulation scheme to generate the duty cycle.
It has two input signals. In one embodiment, terminals 720 and 722 of container 712
Is continuously sampled and compared to a reference voltage. DC / DC
The error correction signal is used to change the duty cycle of the converter. In this example, a negative feedback loop from the output voltage at terminals 720 and 722 of container 712 allows DC / DC converter 750 to provide a regulated output voltage. Alternatively, DC / DC converter 750 may use a plurality of input signals and output currents, such as the cell voltage, ie, the voltage between positive electrode 732 and negative electrode 734 of electrochemical cell 730, to set the duty cycle. Can be generated. In this embodiment, the cell voltage and output current are monitored and D
C / DC converter 750 provides a duty cycle that is a function of these two parameters.
Generate a cycle.

FIGS. 8-11 are block diagrams of additional embodiments of the integrated controller circuit of the present invention. In each of these embodiments, the integrated controller circuit comprises at least two main components: (1) a DC / DC converter and (2) a DC / DC converter.
Only when the DC / DC converter needs to convert the cell voltage to the voltage required to drive the load, the internal losses of the DC / DC converter occur.
A converter controller electrically and preferably electronically connects and disconnects the DC / DC converter between the electrochemical cell electrode and the output terminal of the container. The DC / DC converter can be turned on, for example, only when the cell voltage drops to a predetermined level at which the load can no longer operate. Alternatively, if the electronic device requires an input voltage within a certain range, for example, ± 10% of the battery's nominal voltage, the converter controller may provide a DC / DC converter when the cell voltage is outside the desired range. Can be turned on, but the converter can be turned off when the cell voltage is within the desired range.

For example, in FIG. 8, DC / DC converter 850 includes positive electrode 832 and negative electrode 834 of electrochemical cell 830 and positive terminal 820 and negative terminal 82 of container 812.
2 are electrically connected. Converter controller 852 is also electrically connected between positive electrode 832 and negative electrode 834 of electrochemical cell 830 and positive terminal 820 and negative terminal 822 of container 812. In this example, converter controller 852 may connect electrochemical cell 830 directly to output terminals 820 and 822 of container 812, or connect DC between electrochemical cell 830 and output terminals 820 and 822 of container 812. It functions as a switch for connecting the / DC converter 850. Converter controller 852 continuously samples the output voltage and compares it to one or more internally generated threshold voltages. For example, if the output voltage of container 812 falls below the threshold voltage level or is outside the desired range of the threshold voltage, converter controller 852 may control the output of electrochemical cell 830 and the output of container 812. DC / between terminals 820 and 822
The DC / DC converter 850 is “switched on” by electrically or preferably electronically connecting the DC converter 850. The threshold voltage preferably ranges approximately from the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell 830 to near the maximum cutoff voltage of the class of electronic device for which the battery is designed to operate. Alternatively, converter controller 852 can continuously sample the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell, compare this voltage to a threshold voltage, and control the operation of DC / DC converter 850.

The controller 940 of FIG. 9 may include the elements of the controller 840 shown in FIG. 8, but may further include a ground connection electrically connected between the electrodes 932 and 934 of the electrochemical cell 930. Bias circuit 980, DC / DC converter 950, converter controller 952, and output terminal 920 of container 912
And 922. The ground bias circuit 980 outputs the negatively biased voltage level Vnb to the DC / DC converter 950 and the negative output terminal 9 of the container 912.
22. As a result, the voltage applied to the DC / DC converter 950 rises from the cell voltage to a value obtained by adding the absolute value of the negatively biased voltage level Vnb to the cell voltage. In this case, converter 950 can operate at an efficient voltage level until the actual cell voltage drops to a voltage level lower than the lowest forward bias voltage that needs to drive ground bias circuit 980. . Accordingly, converter 950 can more efficiently obtain higher current levels than can be obtained using only the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell 930 that drives it. In a preferred embodiment of the controller 940 for the battery 910 of the present invention having an electrochemical cell with a nominal voltage of about 1.5V,
The negatively biased voltage Vnb preferably ranges from about 0V to about 1V.
More preferably, the negatively biased voltage Vnb is about 0.5V and 0.4V
Is most preferred. Thus, when the cell voltage drops below about 1 V in an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 1.5 V, the ground bias circuit 980 causes the converter to discharge the electrochemical cell 930 more deeply. As a result, the efficiency of the converter 950 when extracting current from the electrochemical cell 930 can be increased.

One exemplary embodiment of a charge pump 988 that can be used as the ground bias circuit 980 in the battery 910 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9A. In this embodiment,
When switches S1 and S3 are closed and S2 and S4 are open, the cell voltage of electrochemical cell 930 charges capacitor Ca. Then, when the switches S1 and S3 are opened and S2 and S4 are closed, the charge on the capacitor Ca is inverted and conducted to the capacitor Cb, and the capacitor Cb is connected to the electrochemical cell 930.
Supplies the inverted output voltage from the cell voltage of Alternatively, the charge pump 988 shown in FIG. 9A can be replaced with any suitable charge pump known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, ground bias circuit 980 includes charge pump circuit 986. The charge pump 986 is shown in FIG. 9B and includes a clock generator 987 and one or more pumps 988. In the preferred embodiment of the charge pump circuit 986 shown in FIG. 9B, the charge pump includes a two-stage configuration including, for example, four mini pumps 989 and one main pump 990. However, any number of mini pumps 989 can be used. One preferred embodiment of the charge pump circuit 986 includes, for example, twelve mini-pumps 989 and one main pump.
Including pump. The mini pump 989 and the main pump 990 of this embodiment
Are generated by a clock generator 987, each signal having the same frequency but phase shifted with respect to four different phase control signals 991a, 991b, 991c
, And 991d. The control signals 991a to 991d can be, for example, 90 degrees out of phase with each other. In this embodiment, each mini-pump 989 controls the control signals 991a through 991 generated by the clock generator.
Supply the inverted output voltage of d. The main pump 990 includes a plurality of mini pumps 9.
The outputs of 89 are summed to produce an output signal that is at the same voltage level as the individual output voltages of the mini-pumps 989, but at a higher current level than the sum of the currents supplied by all twelve mini-pumps 989. , To the charge pump circuit 986. This output signal provides a virtual ground for the DC / DC converter 950 and the output negative terminal 922 of the container 912.

In another aspect of the invention, the charge pump circuit turns on the charge pump circuit 986 when the cell drops to a predetermined voltage level to minimize losses associated with the charge pump circuit 986. It further includes a charge pump controller 992 for switching. The predetermined voltage level for the charge pump controller 992 may range, for example, from approximately the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell 930 to the highest cutoff voltage of the group of electronic devices to which the battery 910 is designed to supply power. Good. The predetermined voltage level is preferably slightly higher than the highest cut-off voltage of the class of electronic device for which the battery 910 is designed to supply power. For example, the predetermined voltage level is preferably about 0.2 V higher than the highest cut-off voltage of the class of electronic device for which the battery 910 is designed to operate. More preferably, the predetermined voltage level is 0.15V above the cutoff voltage. Further more preferably,
Preferably, the predetermined voltage level is about 0.1 V above the cutoff voltage and about 0.05 V above the cutoff voltage. Alternatively, the charge pump circuit 986 may be controlled by the same control signal that turns on the DC / DC converter 950 such that the charge pump circuit 986 operates only when the converter 950 is operating.

Further, when the ground bias circuit 980 is turned off, the virtual ground applied to the output negative terminal 922 of the container 912 drops to the voltage level of the negative electrode 934 of the electrochemical cell 930. Is preferred. Thus, when the ground bias circuit is not operating, the battery is powered by the electrochemical cell 930
Operate in a standard ground configuration formed by the negative electrode 934 of FIG.

Alternatively, the ground bias circuit 980 can include a second DC / DC converter, such as a Buck-Boost converter, a Cuk converter, a linear regulator. Further, a DC / DC converter 950 and a ground bias circuit 980 are combined to increase a positive output voltage and decrease a negative output voltage, such as a Buck-Boost converter, a push-pull converter, and a flyback converter.
It can be replaced with a single converter such as a converter.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the controller circuit 1040 of the present invention. In this embodiment, DC / DC converter 1050 can accept a correction control signal from an external signal source, such as phase shift detection circuit 1062. As described above with reference to FIG. 7, the DC / DC converter 1050 controls the operation parameters of the converter 1050 using a control method such as a pulse width modulator. In this embodiment, the controller circuit 1040 includes the same elements as the controller 940 shown in FIG. 9, but the AC component of the cell voltage at the electrode 1032 and the electrochemical cell 1030 measured across the current sensing resistor Rc. And a phase shift detection circuit 1062 that measures the instantaneous phase shift Ψ between the current and the current obtained from DC / DC converter 1050 is
Other internally or externally generated control signals are used in combination with this signal to generate the duty cycle.

The controller 1140 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 can include the same elements as the controller 1040 shown in FIG. 10, but with the current sensing resistor Rc and the positive and negative electrodes 1132 and 1122 of the electrochemical cell 1130 Emergency disconnection circuit 1182 electrically connected to converter controller 1152
Further included. The emergency disconnect circuit 1182 is connected to the output terminal 11 of the container 1112 to protect the consumer, electrical or electronic device, or the electrochemical cell itself.
Inform converter controller 1152 of one or more safety-related conditions that require disconnection of electrochemical cell 1130 from 20 and 1122. For example, if a short circuit or polarity reversal occurs, the emergency disconnect circuit 1182 directs the converter controller 1152 to disconnect the electrodes 1132 and 1134 of the electrochemical cell 1030 from the terminals 1120 and 1122 of the container 1112. Emergency disconnect circuit 1182 may also indicate to converter controller 1152 when the discharge cycle of electrochemical cell 1130 is complete by sensing the voltage and / or internal impedance of electrochemical cell 1130. For example, the controller 1140 may reduce the current when the residual capacity of the electrochemical cell 1130 has decreased to a predetermined level, and for a short duration when the residual capacity of the electrochemical cell 1130 reaches a predetermined value. Intermittently disconnect and reconnect electrodes 1132 and 1134 of electrochemical cell 1130 from output terminals 1120 and 1122, or some other visual or audible indication that the battery is about to lose power. Or a machine readable display can be provided. The emergency disconnect circuit disconnects the electrochemical cell 1130 from the terminals 1120 and 1122 of the container 1112 and / or discharges the electrochemical cell 1 at the end of the discharge cycle.
A signal may be sent to converter controller 1152 requesting that output terminals 1120 and 1122 be shorted to prevent 130 from consuming current in other cells connected in series.

The preferred controller 1240 shown in FIG.
A DC / DC converter 1250 having a synchronous rectifier 1274 electronically connectable to and disconnectable from the second positive terminal 1220 is included. The switches of the synchronous rectifier 1274 may be added in the direct electrical path between the positive and negative electrodes 1232 and 1234 of the electrochemical cell 1230 and the output terminals 1220 and 1222 of the container, such as the converter controller 852 described above with respect to FIG. Switch is unnecessary. Synchronous rectifier 1274 also increases the efficiency of DC / DC converter 1250 by reducing internal losses. The converter controller 1252 of this embodiment may use additional input signals to control the DC / DC converter 1250. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, converter controller 1252 senses internal electrochemical cell environments such as temperature, pressure, hydrogen and oxygen concentrations, as well as the phase shift measurements described above with respect to FIG. Monitor through.

7 to 12 show progressively more complex circuit designs of the present invention. These designs are provided in order to describe not only the DC / DC converter, which is the central element of the controller of the present invention, but also the various elements that can be included in an integrated controller circuit. The order of presentation does not imply that elements introduced subsequently in a circuit combining several different elements depart from the scope of the invention if they do not have all the features described with respect to the preceding figures. is not. For example, an emergency disconnection circuit, a charge indicator circuit, a phase sensing circuit, and / or a ground bias circuit may be provided without a converter controller or other elements shown in the figures showing these elements. Can be used in combination with the above circuit.

A preferred embodiment of the integrated controller circuit 1340 used in the battery 1310 of the present invention is a DC / DC converter 1350 and a converter controller 1
352 and is shown in FIG. Converter 1350 is preferably a substantially inductorless, high frequency, high efficiency medium power converter capable of operating at a voltage below the threshold voltage of most electronic devices. Controller 13
40 provides a charge pump as shown in FIG. 9B to supply a virtual ground having a lower potential than the potential of the negative electrode 1334 of the electrochemical cell 1330 to the DC / DC converter 1350 and the output terminal 1322 of the container 1312. It is preferred to include. The virtual ground provides a high voltage difference that can be used to drive the DC / DC converter 1350, which causes the converter 1350 to generate a higher current level than is possible with the cell voltage alone driving the electrochemical cell 1330. To get more efficiently from

In this embodiment, converter controller 1352 preferably uses a pulse width pulse phase modulation control scheme. The phase shift detection circuit 1362 includes:
The positive electrode 1332 and the negative electrode 1334 of the electrochemical cell 1330 measure the current obtained from the electrochemical cell 1330 and the instantaneous and / or continuous phase shift between the voltage and the current. This phase shift forms an internal impedance of the electrochemical cell 1330, which is a function of the charge capacity of the electrochemical cell 1330. After about 50% discharge of the electrochemical cell 1330 as determined by the cell closed circuit voltage drop,
A higher internal impedance indicates that the electrochemical cell 1330 capacity remains. The phase shift detection circuit 1362 supplies such a signal to the phase linear controller 1371. The phase linear controller 1371 then controls the voltage Vs detected by the phase shift detection circuit 1362 and the output voltage control signal V in direct proportion to the phase shift pulse modulator 1376 using a combination of pulse width modulation control and pulse phase modulation control. (Psi). The pulse modulator 1376 also
The voltage drop across resistor Rs is received as a voltage control signal.

The pulse modulator 1376 drives the DC / DC converter 1350 by using the voltage control signal in combination. When voltage Vs exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage level, pulse modulator 1376 activates a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (“MOS
FET ") keep M3 closed and keep MOSFET M4 open. The current path from electrochemical cell 1330 to the load is maintained through MOSFET M3. Also, since the duty cycle is effectively maintained at 0%, the DC / D
The losses associated with C converter 1350 and converter controller 1352 are minimized. In this case, the closed MOSFET M3 and the resistor Rs
Has very low DC loss. The resistor Rs is, for example, about 0.01 Ω to about 0.1 Ω.
Range.

However, when voltage Vs falls below a predetermined threshold voltage level, pulse modulator 1376 is turned on and modulates the duty cycle of DC / DC converter 1350 based on the combination of voltage control signals. The amplitude of Vs serves as the primary control signal that controls the duty cycle. The voltage drop across the current sensing resistor Rs is a function of the output current and serves as a second control signal. Finally, the signal V (psi) generated by the phase linear controller 1371 is a third signal that is directly proportional to the phase shift between the AC component of the cell voltage and the current obtained from the electrochemical cell 1330.
Is a control signal. In particular, the V (psi) signal is used to change the duty cycle in response to changes in internal impedance over the service run time of the battery. Duty cycle affects converter efficiency and battery service run time. The pulse modulator reduces the instantaneous and / or continuous amplitude of Vs, or increases the voltage drop across resistor Rs, and / or instantaneously and / or continuously the V (phi) control signal. Increase duty cycle when large amplitude increases. The contribution of each variable is weighted according to an appropriate control algorithm.

When the pulse modulator 1376 is turned on, the oscillator preferably has a 50% duty cycle and a range from about 40 KHz to about 1 MHz, more preferably from about 40 KHz to about 600 KHz, and generally about 50 KHz to about 600 KHz. Generate a trapezoidal or square wave control pulse with 600 KHz being the most preferred frequency. The pulse modulator 1376 uses the appropriate control algorithm to
Change the duty cycle of the output control signal for TM3 and M4. Most commonly, the control algorithm operates M3 and M4 with duty cycles having the same duty cycle but opposite phases. MOSF
ET M3 and M4 are such that M3 is preferably an N-channel MOSFET;
Preferably, 4 is a complementary high power transistor, preferably a P-channel MOSFET. Basically, the configuration of a complete DC / DC converter 1350 is a boost DC / DC converter with a synchronous rectifier at the output. Converter 1350 also minimizes AC and DC losses by using MOSFET M3 instead of an asynchronous Schottky diode. Separate control signals drive M3 and power MOSFET M4. Changing the phase and / or duty cycle between the M3 and M4 control signals causes the container 131
The output voltage between the second terminal 1320 and the terminal 1322 is changed.

Phase modulator 1376 may control MOSFETs M 3 and M 4 based on one or more voltage control signals, such as voltage Vs, a voltage drop across resistor Rs, or the internal impedance of electrochemical cell 1330. it can. For example, when the load current consumption is low, the pulse modulator 1376 generates a duty cycle of the DC / DC converter 1350 close to 0%. However, if the load current consumption is high, the pulse modulator 1376 will provide a DC / DC converter 13
Generate 50 duty cycles. As the load current consumption fluctuates between the two endpoints, the pulse modulator 1376 varies the duty cycle of the DC / DC converter to supply the current required by the load.

FIG. 14 shows a battery B1 without a controller according to the invention, a battery B2 according to the invention with a controller in which the converter operates in continuous mode, and a battery for the given electronic device for which the battery is designed. FIG. 4 compares exemplary discharge curves for a battery B3 of the present invention having a controller with which the converter switches on when the cut-off voltage is exceeded. As shown in FIG. 14, the battery B1 without the controller of the present invention fails at time t1 in the battery device having the cut-off voltage Vc. However, the controller for battery B2 continuously increases the battery output voltage to voltage level V2 throughout the service run time of the battery. When the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell of the battery B2 drops to the voltage level Vd, that is, the minimum operating voltage of the controller, the controller of the battery B2 stops at time t2, the battery output voltage drops to zero, and the battery B2 becomes effective. Service run time ends. FIG.
As shown in the graph, the effective service run time of the battery B2 having the controller in which the converter operates in the continuous mode is increased by t2-t1.

However, the controller of the battery B3 does not start increasing the output voltage of the battery until the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell reaches the predetermined voltage level Vp3. The predetermined voltage level Vp3 is preferably in the range of the nominal voltage level of the electrochemical cell or the highest cut-off voltage of the class of the electronic device for which the battery is to be powered. More preferably, the predetermined voltage level Vp3 is about 0,3 V higher than the highest cut-off voltage Vc of the class of the electronic device for which the battery is to supply power.
2V higher. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage level Vp3 is about 0.15V higher than the highest cutoff voltage Vc of the class of the electronic device for which the battery is to supply power. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage level Vp3 is the highest cut-off voltage Vp of the class of the electronic device for which the battery is to be powered.
Most preferably about 0.1V and about 0.05V above c. When the cell voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level Vp3, the converter of the battery B3 outputs the output voltage level Vp3.
Initiate a rise or stabilization to c + ΔV. Voltage level ΔV is shown in FIG. 14 and represents the voltage difference between the increased output voltage of battery B3 and cut-off voltage Vc. The voltage level ΔV preferably ranges from about 0V to about 0.4V, and
V is more preferred. In this case, battery B3 continues to provide output until the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell drops to voltage level Vd, the minimum operating voltage of the converter, and the controller of battery B3 shuts down. At this point, the battery output voltage is at time t3
To end the effective service run time of battery B3. As shown in the graph of FIG. 14, the battery B compared to the battery B1 without the controller of the present invention.
The extension of the effective service run time of No. 3 is represented by t3-t1.

FIG. 14 shows that when batteries B3 and B2 are connected to the same electronic device,
This also shows that battery B3 lasts longer than battery B2. As the converter of battery B2 operates continuously, some of the energy capacity of the electrochemical cells of battery B2 is consumed by the internal losses of the converter, so that the cell voltage of battery B2 is reduced by the controller during one discharge cycle. The minimum operating voltage of the converter Vd is reached in a shorter time than the battery B3 that operates only between the sections. Therefore, battery B
Battery B as close as possible to the cut-off voltage of the electronic device supplying power
Optimizing the selection of the predetermined voltage Vp3 of 3 makes the most efficient use of the electrochemical cell and extends the service run time of the battery. Therefore, the predetermined voltage Vp3 of the battery B3 is preferably equal to or slightly higher than the cut-off voltage of the electronic device or the electrical device to which the battery B3 is to supply power. For example, the predetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.2V higher than the cutoff voltage. More preferably, the predetermined voltage Vp3 is preferably about 1.5 V higher than the cutoff voltage. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage Vp3 may be preferably about 0.1 V above the cutoff voltage, and most preferably about 0.05 V above the cutoff voltage.

However, when the battery is designed as a standard device for various battery devices, a voltage equal to or slightly higher than the maximum cutoff voltage of this group of electronic devices is selected as the predetermined voltage Vp3. Preferably. For example, the predetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.2V higher than the highest cut-off voltage of this group of electronic devices. More preferably, the predetermined voltage Vp3 may be about 0.15V higher than the highest cutoff voltage of this group of electronic devices. Even more preferably,
The predetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.1 V higher than the highest cut-off voltage of the group of electronic devices, and about 0.3 V higher than the highest cut-off voltage of the group of electronic devices.
Most preferably, it is 05V higher.

The graph of FIG. 14 also shows that the lower the minimum operating voltage of converter Vd, the longer the service run time is extended compared to battery B1 without the controller of the present invention. . Also, the greater the difference between the cut-off voltage of the electronic device Vc and the minimum operating voltage Vd of the converter, the higher the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell, so that the service run of the battery by the controller according to the invention is performed. The extension of time becomes large.

[0094]

[Table 2]

Table 2 shows discharge data for an AA alkaline battery of the present invention with a built-in controller in which the converter operates in continuous mode and raises the cell voltage to an output voltage of about 1.6 V, and has the controller of the present invention. 3 is a table comparing discharge data for typical AA alkaline batteries. The data in this table shows that the battery is about 125 m on average
Percentage of output voltage, power consumption, and residual capacity each hour over the service run time of the battery when connected to a medium resistive load of about 12Ω that draws A
(Total capacity = 2400 mAh). As shown in the table, the output voltage of the battery with the converter remains at 1.6 V during the service run time of the battery, whereas the output voltage of the battery without the controller is the service voltage. It decreases from the battery's nominal voltage over the run time.

Table 2 further shows that the battery of the present invention with a built-in controller offers two different advantages over AA batteries without a controller. First, for a device with a cut-off voltage of about 1 V, the run time of a battery with a built-in controller is about 10 hours, whereas a battery without a controller has an output voltage greater than 1 V. Stop operation in the device after up to about 8 hours when dropped to a lower voltage. Thus, in this example, the controller achieves a service run time extension of about 25% compared to a battery without it. Second
In addition, the percentage of the power supplied to the load and the rated capacity of the battery used before the device shuts down is much higher for the battery of the present invention with a built-in controller. Under constant power drain conditions, a battery without the controller of the present invention can be used before the electronic device shuts down, since as the output voltage of the battery decreases, the ability of the cell to supply current decreases proportionally. Duration is much shorter. For this reason, a battery with a built-in controller offers much greater advantages.

However, for the case where the cut-off voltage of the battery is about 1.1 V, Table 2 shows that the battery of the present invention with the integrated controller operates much more favorably than the AA battery without the controller. Is shown. While the run time of a battery with a built-in controller is still about 10 hours, a battery without a controller has
The device stops operating after up to about 6 hours when the output voltage drops below 1.1V. Thus, in this example, the controller achieves a service run time extension of about 67% compared to a battery without it. Also, the percentage of the power supplied to the load and the rated capacity of the battery used before the device stops is much higher than in the conventional example. Again, under constant current drain conditions, a battery without the controller of the present invention will have a lower electronic cell capacity as the output voltage of the battery will be reduced, as will the ability of the cell to supply current. The duration before stopping is much shorter. For this reason, a battery with a built-in controller offers much greater advantages.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical tubular battery structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another typical tubular battery structure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another typical tubular battery structure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of one preferred embodiment of the battery shown in FIG.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery shown in FIG.

FIG. 5A is a partially exploded sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a partially exploded sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 5C is a partially exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the multi-cell battery of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

9A is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an aspect of the preferred embodiment of the battery of FIG. 9;

9B is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of aspects of the preferred embodiment of the battery of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a combination of a block diagram and a schematic diagram of another preferred embodiment of the battery of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a graph of discharge characteristic curves for a typical battery and two different preferred embodiments of the battery of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY , CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP , KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW. STATES OF AMERICA (72) Inventor Nebrizic, Dragon Danilo Indian, Springs, Mills, Crest, Drive, Ohio, USA 4115 F-term (reference) 5G003 BA01 DA02 GA01 GB03 5H025 AA07 CC31 CC33 CC39 5H040 AA00 AS13

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A primary battery useful in a device having a cut-off voltage, comprising: (a) a container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and (b) a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed in the container. A primary electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage and a cell voltage measured between the positive and negative electrodes of the cell; and (c) between the positive and negative terminals of the container. Electrically connected between the electrode of the cell and the terminal of the container to generate an output voltage measured at: (i) the output voltage is higher than a cut-off voltage of the device. Wherein the controller includes a converter adapted to operate at a cell voltage lower than a cut-off voltage of the device, so as to extend a battery run time by converting the cell voltage to the output voltage; ii) the output voltage A converter for converting the cell voltage to the output voltage so as to be lower than a nominal voltage of the cell; (iii) a converter for converting the cell voltage to the output voltage; Wherein the primary battery comprises a single-cell battery, a universal single-cell battery, a multi-cell battery, and a multi-cell hybrid battery. A primary battery, which is selected. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primary battery is one of an integer number of batteries connected in series with the device.
The output voltage is equal to or higher than the cut-off voltage of the device divided by the integer number of batteries, the primary battery is a multi-cell battery, and the primary battery is further configured as: A positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, wherein the container, the cell, and the controller form a first cell unit, wherein the first cell unit is disposed between the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal. One of an integer number of cell units electrically connected in series, wherein the output voltage is equal to or higher than a cutoff voltage of a device divided by the integer number of cell units. The primary battery according to claim 1. 3. The primary battery according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the cell voltage to a voltage lower than at least 0.6V. 4. The controller, wherein the controller is adapted to electrically connect the converter between the electrode of the cell and the terminal of the container when the cell voltage drops to a predetermined voltage level, the controller comprising: 1. Enable deep discharge of the cell when the cutoff voltage of the device is 1V for a cell with a voltage of 1.5V and / or the cutoff voltage of the device is 2. The predetermined voltage level ranges from 0.8V to 1.2V for a cell having a nominal voltage of 1.5V to allow at least 90% discharge of the cell when at 4V; A range from the cut-off voltage of the device to a value obtained by adding 0.2 V to the cut-off voltage of the device, and a range from the cut-off voltage of the device to the nominal voltage of the cell. The primary battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 5. The converter, wherein: (i) a control circuit electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the cell, wherein the control circuit preferably includes a pulse modulator, more preferably Wherein said pulse modulator comprises a pulse width modulator having at least one input control signal, and even more preferably said pulse modulator electrically disconnects said converter from said cell and connects said converter to said cell. To be electrically connected,
Even more preferably, the pulse modulator causes the converter to convert from the cell based at least in part on one or more control signals selected from the group of an internal impedance of the cell, a drain current, and the output voltage. Electrically disconnecting and electrically connecting the converter to the cell, and even more preferably, the pulse modulator is configured to connect to the electrode of the cell when the cell voltage drops to a predetermined voltage level. A control circuit adapted to electrically connect the converter between the terminals of the container and the predetermined voltage level is preferably in a range from a cut-off voltage of the device to approximately a nominal voltage of the cell. (Ii) a DC / AC driver electrically connected to the control circuit; and (iii) the DC / AC driver and the DC / AC driver. Primary cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said positive terminal and said negative terminal of the container further comprises an electrically connected synchronous rectifier. 6. The controller, comprising: (iv) electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the cell, providing a virtual ground to the converter and the negative terminal of the container, preferably comprising a charge pump circuit. 6. The primary according to claim 1, further comprising a ground bias circuit, wherein the virtual ground is preferably at a voltage lower than the voltage level of the negative electrode of the cell. battery. 7. The primary battery according to claim 1, wherein the nominal voltage is higher than 1.5V. 8. The cell is a lithium cell, wherein the nominal voltage of the cell is in the range of 2.8V to 4.0V, and wherein the controller is configured to control the output voltage to be 1V.
. The primary battery according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cell voltage is reduced stepwise so as to fall within a range of 0V to 1.6V. 9. An apparatus comprising: (a) a positive input terminal; (b) a negative input terminal electrically connected to the positive input terminal; and (c) a cutoff voltage. Claim 1
The primary battery according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. A method of extending the run time of a primary battery, comprising: (a) (i) a container having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; (ii) a positive electrode disposed in the container, An electrochemical cell having an electrode, a cell voltage measured between the positive and negative electrodes of the cell, and a nominal voltage; and (iii) between the positive and negative terminals of the container. Providing a primary battery electrically connected between the electrode of the cell and the terminal of the container to generate a measured output voltage, the primary battery including a controller including a converter; and (b) cut-off. Electrically connecting the primary battery to a device having a voltage; and (c) converting the cell voltage to the output voltage such that the output voltage is higher than a cutoff voltage of the device. Characterized by Method.